Control assembly



2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. I19, 1929.

D. E. ROSS CONTROL ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 5, 1927 4,/ A o, il.

Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,840

D. E. Ross CONTROL AS SEMBLY Filed Jan. 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR.

Lio

Patented Feb. 19, 1929,. y

yUNITED STATES" PATE-NT 1,102,840 OFFICE.

DAVID E. ROSS, F LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, ASSIG-NOR TO ROSS GVEAR 85'1TOOLl COMI-v PANY, 0F LA FAYET'IE, INDIANA, A COYRPORATIONVOF INDIAlhTA;l i

CONTROL ASSEMBLY.

Application led `January 3, 1927. Serial No. 158,803.

This invention is ai novel control assembly for use inconnection With the steering gearswheel iii convenient reach of the operator,A

each of said levers being respectively connected toits related concentrically arranged control tube extending through the steering post or tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby the control leversinay be easily assembled or disassembled in a verysimple expeditious manner without having to remove the steering gear or disturb 'the nested control tubes. n Another object oi the invention is to provide a control assembly' wherein the control levers can be quickly disconnected from their related control tubes and removed, and the steering wheel removed from an automobile having a closed body, or a relatively low top, without having first to disarrange or `disturb the control tubes; and the steeriiig'wheel and the control levers can be replaced quickly rand be in proper operative relation and position when so replaced.

Another object is to provide such a control assembly n with an electrical horn button mounting, so arringed that When'itis desired to disassenible or remove the control levers it is not necessaryto disassemble the horn button ailiseiiibly.

Another vobject of the invention is to provide a control assembly which will occurv very little vertical space and can be substantially concealed within a countei'borc in the upper end of the hub of the steering wheel.

A 'further object of the invention is to pro- .vide novel mechanical Vdetails of construction, and novel combinationsand Arran,f .geinents of.

parts, which will ensure durability, and ecoii'-, oiny ot construction, and efficiency in opera-v tion.. f

C'tliei" min or objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter .set forth.

In tlieacconiipaiiying drawings I'have illustrated one practical embodimentl of the iiii'ention. and will describe the same with reterence thereto to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; but I do not consider vthe invention restricted to thev specific construction of parts shown; and will refer to the claimsicor summaries of the essen.- tials of the invention, the novel features of applied to such control tubes.

construction, and tlievnovel combinations of parts, for all of Which protection isdesired.

In said drawings,- l

Figure 1 is a side View of the control`asf senibly mounted in a counterbore in the upper end of thel hub of a steering wheel, the

` steering whe-el being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the control assembly and steering wheel hub shown in Fig. 1. n

Fig. v3 is a reduced plan View of the assembly With theftop lever and cap member removed. I v

Fig.4 is a detail section showing a 'modifie cation. y l p Y Figs. `5, 5a, 5b are topview, vertical section, and side view, respectively, of the supporting member 2.

Figs. v6 and 6L are top yand sideviews of disk 14. v l

Figs. 7, 7a, I are top View, vertical section, andside view, respectively, of the base inember1.-

Fig. Sis a top view ofthe plate 31.

Fig. 9fis a top view of one of the spacing Washers 7. f

Figs. 10and 11 are details. y Y

In the drawings I have shown thev in venY tion as embodied in a control assembly having three control tubes and levers, anda horn button. The steering wheel W is provided with a cupped shaped recess lV in its upper end, the Wheel being secured to the upper end of ,the steering tube by incans of a wheely nut 26 in the usual i'nanner,` stecringtube being housed within an outer stationary-'tubular casing 28 as customary.

tubeQl, and` Within tliistube 24 is arranged a nested series of concentric control tubes 22,

21, and 23 which might be the spark tube` gas tube, and choke tube, respectively. These parts, so far described, are all well knownand may be of any suitable construction, and VI.v will now. proceed to'describe the invention as FiXedly attached to the upper Aend of the fixed tube 24 is a tubular supporting member which may be formed of stamped or drawn metal and has a` cvlindric portion 2 which is closely fittedto the vexterior and, upperl end of the tube 24 vand secured thereto` in any desired manner, preferably by brazingiforl vmelding, said portion 2 act-ing Aas a bushing between `the upper ends .of the fixed tube Yin arcuate length, the same and the ySteeririg tube'Q. Supporting member Q, is also provided with au arcuate verticalvlange portion of `larger radiustliau the porti@A 2, arid connected therewith by an annular shoulder er flange 2b; the part 2a preferably being approximately 2l@ degreee being cut away at (me side for the purpose hereinafter 'de scribed. 2

The outside, diameter "of the part 2 slightlyemaller than the irieide diameter of the threaded portion el Vwh el uut- 26, so that the said uut aud Steering Wheel TW cau be taken oil or Ypla-eed ou the steering 'tube without'removing the ,aufiportiug iiieii'iber il er disturbing the lizred tube 2dr C oiitrel tube @n exl'eiide Slightly al'iove the Y upper 'oud of iii/:ed tube aud attached to the upper end thereof is aV collar lll which is preferably braied tOSaidtiibeQQ, and ite eX- te'rhal diameter is euch as to malt 'an easy running lit Within the arcuate portion 2d center the upper "eud'cftube 22 .iiisupportiug member A2. Y Similarly, a collar 13 is; brazed to the uppereudef control 'tube 2l- -which extends slightly above the tube 22, collar i3 also making an easy ruiming Within tbe arcuate part 2, A collar 'l5 braze'd or otherwise fixedly attached to the upper erl of the iniier control tube 23, which tube e tende slightly above the upper end of control tube 2l, the lower part o1 collar l5 also maliing an easy ruiming lit Withiii the upper part of arcuate portion 2a. The collare fiel l-, and l5 serve as bushings or bearirigsif 4r the upper ends of theirreepective cou -roltubes 22, 2l, and 23. i

Collar le isv provided with a peripheral Slot 14; parallel with the axis oi' the disk; aud the superimposed collar 13 has similarelet 13 iii itsperipli'ery; aim 'the Collar l5 'has a Similar slot lim; the slots in the Super-imposed collars are preferably ina-le Slightly larger than the Slots iu be im lying collzureI facilitate' assembly dieafs sembly ci? the part-s as hereinafter df Y 'Fitted to the part 2 'z base meiub com prising a horizontaldigli-like portion l liavlug auaeial opening l Siufrounded on its upper Sidelby a parti-cyliiidrie vertier; flange or arcuate portion lb, which is adapted to tit neatly around and to the arciuifte portieri 9j of the Supporting' member 2. illusie member l may be a casting or stamping. rllie er1 le oi' the arcuate portion lb arefprei'fided iv i ilu- Wardly prejecting'lips or lugs le, .vl ich are adapted to'engage the 'ends of tbe part 2 of supporting' memberf, (see rig. 3) and veut the basemember 'l rotatie-trou they eupporting` merriber 2. The or vlugs `l" Should notV j ad rlieto the part. QP; 'riorieterifere Withfthe free entry afrijd rotation oil the colla-rs 13,"l4f5fahd iu the part 2a.

Rotatably mounted upon the horizontal flange l eiQ the base member7 and guided by ,elle

le Slot 1115A iu collar lll, so Vtheft a rotative movement of lever 3 will impart a corre, ooi-idf motion to i Jube'f, the too 'engaging the collar ll tlirough the r be* the-ende e1 the arcuateporQA i sup p rtuig'member 2 and 'baue me l, (eee Fig. 3). i i

Above the lever 5 is a lever i provided with a handle by xvliie itcan beturu-ed. The lever ie provided with a radial too-th :1lb

u e periphery oit collar l, .vliereby rotatiori of lever Ll imparte rotation to the co tube 2l. The teeth fl" arid 5Cv Willerends oiIl the arcuate portieri lb oi basse' il and limit the arcuate movements of tlie'l'evers l arid j A Aritbfrietien disks Y, See 2f e preferably interposed 'between andthe' lever gaieo between Jhele-vere land 5; and between the top of lever `deuda neriretatable plate 8l, hereinafter referred te; each c isl 7 -har-fing sbouldereK 7a '(.eee Fi .9) adapted to engage the ends of tie armate portion lb to prevent rotatiou'of t JAbove lever lis a'pla e Slwhich is 'preferud 95 are ably circular arid has a cent' ofi r hav- 11 shoulders 31h adapted te en de of the arcuateportieu l" and tion ol the plate with reep pla-te 3l is also j ireierably dlametrically fiopoeite ral i u Vi Springs 3, he

the reeep Y l leried te, and liael tappe?Y beie 'which a i cap- Eacli spring 3 is preferably formed of fiat metallic strip beet at au obtuse angle. Ehe apex ol1 the bend le Seated iii erle or the recesses lla aud eue cud of this eprii'ig ie engaged with a slot 2C 2, 5 and 5P) @i to draw the basse member land getlier and thus frietionally bmd the control (See ll ll) Which engages tl'ie'slotthe plate l j trol tubes Cil evers 4 and -and disks 7 together. As washers7 cannot rotate the levers 4 and 5 will thus be iiiictionally held in any adjusted position, and the movement of one lever will not tend to move they ot-lier. The springs 3 allow a breathing or yielding movement as lever 4 or 5 is turned, and compensates forv any slight ditlleiences in thickness of the parts. v v y The construction thus tar described provides for the independent rotation ot control tubes 21 and 22. Obviously if desiredanj other control tube `might be arranged and operated by a lever beneath the plate 31, in the manner that lever 4 is connected with tube 21.

ln the construction shown, the inner tube is operated independently of the other conas follows ;-The colla-r 15 extends above the upper end of the arcuate part 22L ot supporting member 2, and upon this collar 15 is mounted a disk-like plate 16. The plate'V 16 is preferably'non-rotatably engaged with' collar 15 by dowel pins 11, so that when plate 16 is turned the inner tube v23 will also-be turned; and on plate 16 is mounted an annulus 6 which is secured thereto vby countersunk screws 36. rl`lie annulus 6 hasa projecting handle 6a by wliichfit can be turned. AThe annulus 6 is fitted within `a ciicular opening inthe cap member 12, the lower part f the opening being large enough to rotatably accommodate the plate 16. Plate 16 lisof larger diameter than the annulus 6, and a compressible gasket 29 is interposed between the outer edge of the plate 16, and a shoulder 122L formed by the overhanging portionfof the cap member 12 as this means the lever. and plate 16 are rotatably retained in position in the assembly by the cap member 12; and the upper face of annulus 6 'forms a continuation of the cap ineniber 12.

ln the complete assembly the handles 4a and are shown as projecting from oppo site sides et the assembly in substantially Vthe same horizontal plane; and the-handle 6ILL Vporting member 2.

An eleetric `circuit closing device .can'be mounted within'theannulus6. -As show nin Fig. 2 material is ittcd within the eo-llar and extends up through an axial opening in the plate 16, An insulated and armored elec- 'shown in Fig. 2. Byk

a ferrule 2O oftiber or other insulatingrtricalconductor 17 can be led through the ltube. 23, and its bared upper end is fastened'L to the ferrule 20 byI means of a screw 19,l

which projects above the upper end ofthe ierrule Vand serves as one of the electrical contacts.

Abutton 9 litted within an opening inv the annulus 6, and has a tlange 9a on its lower edge adapted to engage a shoulder under the adjacent edge of the opening in annulus 6 to retain the button in place.r A contact plate 18 is fitted inthe recess in the lower side of the button 9. i The button 9 and plate 18 are yieldably urged awayfroin the plate 16 by a spring 10,r which normally holds the contact plate 18 out et engagement with the screw 19. The electrical contact devices operate on the principle of the ordinary electric doorbell pushbutton. .y When thebutton is depressed an electrical Vcircuit is closed through the conductor 17, contact screw 19, plate 18, lspring 10, and plate 16; the metal 'of the assembly forming the return circuitto the battery (not shown).

It it is desired to` remove the steering wheel WV, this 'can lbe done by removing' thecap screws 32 and'flat springs 3. ton assembly can then be removed intactso there will be no loss of parts or time necessary to re-assemble such parts; then when the slots in the` disks'lS, 14, and 15 'are aligned, parts 4, 5, 7,' and base 1 can be removed.

f The above deseribedconstruction a minimum of space outside of the'wheel, and can be 'placed' in -a shallow counterbore WV withinthe wheel. .The kassembly permits removal of the steering'wheel without requiring removal'olthe control tubing; which is a particularlyuseful feature in closed cars whichordinarily would necessitate entire re-V moval of the steering gear, as the concentric control tubes cannot be withdrawn on ac,

count of the low roof of the closed car.

Instead ol" using the yfriction disks 7, and

springs 3 as hereinbefore described, the disks 4 and 5 n'iigl-it be providedwith bowed springs entered between opposed curved surfaces ofY the levers and/the supporting member as indicated at 4X and 5X'in Fig. 4. rSuch springs4 are fullyl shown and. dcscribedin my coinpanion application Gase #7380,. tiled Dec. 15th, 1926,V Serial No.A 154,922,.and Case #7387,1filed December 15, 1926, ASerial No.

154,923. Therefore I do not consider kit necessary to illustra-teer describe such springs more fully herein. Of course when such bowed springs are used the springs 3 could be dispensed V\vith,fand vice versa.

lVhile I-preier to use the springs 3 shown in Fig. 2 l do not consider the invention restricted to the arrangement of springs shown tor holding the levers '4 .and 5 and disks 7 vin i'irietional engagement; neither vdoV I consider myinvention limited to the eXact form shown inr the drawings, for obviously The horn butoccupies lill @the 7e tiene. 1 netclwd Collar vthh the said part' 1 upstandcentric with he S11 ated 11p-0n the and hzwmg 2.1

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G. ln member to e, Sup 111g- 11 the LII ably mounted upon said member and having a detachable tooth and notch engagement with said collar; with a cap member indirectly mounted en said Vtiret member land having an axial opening, a second control tube disposed axially of said meii'ibers, and a sccondlever control lever rotatably mounted upon said nieinbei' and detach-- ably engaoingsaid Collar with a cap member indirectly mounted on said first member and having an axial opening, a` second control tube di posed axially oit said iiieinbei's, a lever rotatably mounted in 'the opening of the cap member, and a plate atta@ and non-i'otatably and deti'ichably connected to the upper end oit the control tube; and means whereby said plate and lever ai'econ fined in position by the cap member.

13, In a con trol asseii'ibly, a member having' a tubular portion attachable to a supporting tube, and an upstanding parti-cylindi'ic portion; a control tube extending into the said parti-cylindric portion of the supporting member; a slotted collar attached to sai d` tube Within the said parti-cylindric portion, and a control lever rotatably mounted upon said member and having a tooth entered between the ends of said part-i-cylindi'ic.poi'tioii and engaging said collar, whereby the tube may be turned by the lever; i Yith a cap member indirectly mount-edon said lirst member and having an axial opening, a second control tube disposed axially of said members; a colf lar thereon; a lever rotatably mounted in the opening ot the cap member, and a plate attached to said lever and non-rotatably and detaeliably connected to the collar on the second control tube; and means whereby said plate and lever are Confined in position by the cap member.

114-. In a control assembly a supporting ached to said tube within the said partihed to said leverl member adapted to be attached yto the upper 'end ot' a supporting tube, a base member slidably mounted upon the supporting member, a plurality of control tubes disposed axially of said members, a collar on the upper end ot Y ich tube, a plurality of superimposed control levers rotatably mounted upon the base member concentric to the collars, each lever detachably engaging the related tube collar; a plate slidably mounted upon the base mem bei' above the levers, a cap member on said plate; and friction means for holding the control levers in adjusted position.

15. In a, control assembly as set- 'toi'th in claim la, the said 'friction means including friction disks between the levers and radially disposed springs ulcrumed on the plate and each having one end. engaged with the supporting member and the other end engaged under the cap member.

y'16. In ak control assembly a supporting member adapted to. be attached to the upger end ot a supporting tube and having a particylindric upper portion, a base member kslidably mounted upon the supporting member and havinga parti-cylindi'ic portion concentric With the parti-cylindric portion of the base member, a plurality of control tubes disosed aXi-all f" of said members a collar on the upper endet each tube Within the parti-cylindrie portion ot the supporting member, a plurality of superimposed levers rotatably mounted upon the base member concentric to the collars, each lever detachably engaging the collar on the related tube, a plate slidably mounted upon the base member above the le vers, a cap member on said plate; and frietion means for holding the control levers in adjusted position. n

17. In a control assembly as set forth in `claim 16, the friction means including triction disks between the levers and radially disposed springsl fulcrumed on the plate and each having one end engaged with the supporting member and the other end engaged under the cap member.

In testimony that I ela-im the foregoing as my own, I aiiix my signature.

DAVID E. ROSS. 

